Measuring poly(acrylamide) flocculants in fresh water using inter-polymer complex formation

Abstract

A novel detection method for poly(acrylamide) flocculants was developed using interpolymer complexation between flocculants and a probe (poly(acrylic acid-co-acenaphthylene)). This detection method was tested in fresh water situations and found to be robust against a range of contaminants; additionally it was capable of detecting levels of flocculant dosing below 1 mg l⁻¹. This method is remarkably fast and requires little sample modification compared to existing methods of detection.